THE THREE TRACKS

• Small Claims Track (SCT) - less than £10,000 (£1000 in personal injury cases)

  • The claim will be heard by a District Judge and lawyers are not encouraged
  • The time allocated to a hearing will be a maximum of 2-3 hours and each party will be allowed a limited number of witnesses
• Fast Track - £10,000 - £25000

  • A case allocated to this track will have a strict timetable set a maximum of 30 weeks. If the parties do not follow the timetable, the claim can be thrown out or judgement in default can be awarded
  • The hearing will be a maximum of one day in open court, with a limited number of witnesses called and usually heard by a Circuit Judge
  • Each of the parties can be represented by a lawyer
• Multi Track - £25,000 - £50,000

  • Usually allocated to the County Court
  • The hearing will take place before a Circuit Judge
  • The case will be strictly case-managed by the Circuit Judge, who sets a strict timetable, the disclosure of relevant documents, the number of witnesses and how long the case will last
  • If the case involves complicated points of law or evidence, or it involves. more than £50,000 in value, it can be passed up to the High Court